When Atlanta Civic Circle reported on metro housing leaders’ visions for denser, more diverse, and, therefore, more affordable residential communities this time last year, it gave public officials plenty of food for thought—and even some explicit legislative proposals. So what’s changed since then? Not much, housing experts said this week. “We certainly haven’t seen any improvement in […]
Category: Atlanta Civic Circle
Posted inAtlanta Civic Circle, Democracy
Voting rights group: Donation bans on elections offices undermine elections
Ongoing efforts by state legislatures in Georgia and elsewhere to ban private donations to local election offices could cripple America’s elections process, warned one voting advocacy group, Democracy Docket. “Underfunded elections will exacerbate all the problems–long lines, slow vote counting, poor staffing–that plague our elections,” the Democratic-funded group said in its latest newsletter. “We can expect our […]
Posted inAtlanta Civic Circle, Democracy
Election workers on their own when facing threats, accusations of misconduct
Early last year, Fulton County election officials dispatched a series of internal emails to top county executives asking for police protection for some election workers dealing with a barrage of threats and harassment sparked by the 2020 presidential election’s outcome. The Fulton election officials alerted the county that the poll workers were being harassed, both […]
Posted inAtlanta Civic Circle, Housing Affordability
Metro Atlanta tenants of color are hardest hit by spiking rents, pandemic
Metro Atlanta tenants hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic and rising housing costs are still seeking emergency rent relief—and people of color are the most severely affected, according to two new reports using data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey. Over 8% of renters in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell metro statistical area applied for federal […]
Posted inAtlanta Civic Circle, Housing Affordability
As mayor crosses 100-day mark, Atlanta Housing head confident in job security
As Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens crosses his 100th day on the job, some top city officials will be headed back to the job market. But Atlanta Housing CEO Eugene Jones said he’s confident he’ll be asked to stick around the city’s newly rejuvenated housing authority. Atlanta Police Chief Rodney Bryant will step down in June, after […]
Posted inAtlanta Civic Circle, Democracy
Remedies to better protect election workers
The federal government is not doing enough to protect election workers from a growing barrage of threats and intimidation, according to a recent national poll of local election officials. Nearly eight in 10 election officials said the federal government is either doing nothing to support them or not doing enough, according to the poll from the Brennan […]
Posted inAtlanta Civic Circle, Housing Affordability
As meetings with Forest Cove renters begin, where they’ll relocate still unclear
Forest Cove property owner Millennia Housing Management began meeting with the condemned complex’s tenants Wednesday about a relocation plan—but it may not succeed in moving all 211 households before the July 15 target date set by the Atlanta mayor’s office. “A lot is still up in the air,” due to the scarcity of apartments in […]
Posted inHousing Affordability
Will Forest Cove residents finally be relocated?
Forest Cove’s residents finally seem close to moving out of the Southside apartment complex that was condemned in December. Now, it’s up to city of Atlanta leaders and property owner Millennia Housing Management to make good on their promise to relocate the 211 households still living there by mid-July. Millennia is expected to sit down with […]
Posted inDemocracy
After surprise withdrawal, Fulton elections director finalist shares his thoughts about the embattled office
Derek Bowens is no stranger to election problems, public attacks and federal investigations. The veteran elections administrator set in motion a turnaround plan to rescue Durham County, N.C.’s elections operation soon after becoming its election director in 2017. But just two weeks ago, he withdrew from consideration for the open position to head the embattled Fulton County […]
Posted inHousing Affordability
Will Forest Cove residents finally be relocated?
Forest Cove’s residents finally seem close to moving out of the Southside apartment complex that was condemned in December. Now, it’s up to city of Atlanta leaders and property owner Millennia Housing Management to make good on their promise to relocate the 211 households still living there by mid-July. Millennia is expected to sit down with […]
Posted inDemocracy
Election officials warn of GBI’s impending insertion in election process
A newly passed bill that gives Georgia’s top law enforcement agency unfettered power to pursue any allegations of election fraud sets a troubling precedent for future elections, some election administration officials contend. Before Senate Bill 441 passed on April 4, in the last hours of the state legislative session, it was up to either the state Attorney […]
Posted inDemocracy
Military vets fight a new war: Political misinformation
After 20 years in the military organizing troops, Gloria Hamilton is now using her military training to get more involved in causes in her community – including the upcoming election. The retired Army veteran was one of 10 vets from around the Southeast who recently participated in a one-of-a-kind, five-day training retreat in Atlanta organized […]
Posted inHousing Affordability
Mayor announces affordable housing “strike force.” But what is it?
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens announced he’s crafting a new “affordable housing strike force” in his first State of the City address April 4, billing it as a “one-stop shop” to coordinate the city’s housing affordability efforts. But what exactly will be the group’s responsibilities? The strike force will launch in two weeks with top officials […]
Posted inAtlanta Civic Circle
Georgia to spend $30.2 billion next year – mostly on education and health care
Also, near a billion dollars for raises for a workforce that seems eager to leave.
Posted inHousing Affordability
Legislature’s effort to encumber upzoning falters, but city reform plans still unclear
A statewide zoning bill that would have further encumbered local efforts to increase residential density failed to cross the finish line when the Georgia General Assembly wrapped up the legislative session on Monday. House Bill 1406, which would have mandated additional hearings and public input before municipalities could rezone single-family properties, was approved by the state House […]
Posted inDemocracy
Military vets fight a new war: Political misinformation
After 20 years in the military organizing troops, Gloria Hamilton is now using her military training to get more involved in causes in her community – including the upcoming election. The retired Army veteran was one of 10 vets from around the Southeast who recently participated in a one-of-a-kind, five-day training retreat in Atlanta organized […]
Posted inDemocracy
Dickens lays out his vision for Atlanta in his first State of The City address
Atlanta is “one city with one bright future,” Mayor Andre Dicken told the region’s top business leaders, lawmakers, and dignitaries Monday at his first State of the City address. “The state of our city is strong,” Dickens said at the early morning business breakfast at the Georgia World Congress Center. “We are — and will […]
Posted inHousing Affordability
City, property owner devise plan to relocate Forest Cove tenants by mid-July
The 211 households living in squalor at southside Atlanta’s condemned Forest Cove apartments could be moved out by July 15, thanks to a deal orchestrated this week by Mayor Andre Dickens’ office and the property owner, Millennia Housing Management, city officials told Atlanta Civic Circle Thursday. The 396-unit Section 8 complex, some of which is vacant due […]
Posted inDemocracy
EXCLUSIVE: Departing Fulton election director blasts lawmakers for playing “Old South” politics
Rick Barron is leaving the building – but not before he gets a few things off of his chest. After nine years heading Georgia’s largest elections operation, Barron has weathered enough criticism, controversy, and procedural changes to give him a full, unvarnished understanding of the political landscape. He’s seen the future, and he’s had enough. […]
Posted inHousing Affordability
Atlanta Housing signs off on plan for nearly 1,000 affordable units in FY 2023
Atlanta’s public housing authority anticipates producing up to 958 new affordable homes in the 2023 fiscal year, which starts July 1, according to projections the agency approved last week. Atlanta Housing’s (AH) board of commissioners signed off on its latest Moving to Work plan, which now goes to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development […]
